by C. R. Daems
"It's no one’s business what I tell anyone." I said, as I stood.
"Do you want protection in Calion?"
"No," I said, not wanting someone watching the wagon and following me around. I'd want it for the clan, but I think the clan is in less danger than the Dorian clan when everyone was looking for the Shadow of Death. Ryana wasn't hiding, so if someone wanted me, they didn't have to search wagons or question clan members.
"How can I get in touch with you if I want?" She asked, surprising me. A very tricky question. Any good answer would give away too many secrets.
"Tell one of the gypsy clans going towards Araby and Dazel."
"How will you get back to me?"
"I will find a way."
"I'd pay you a king's ransom to know your secrets."
"There are things money can't buy, Lady Roshan, loyalty, love, courage..." I said. She nodded agreement. "You may go, Ryana. If it weren't for all the bad news and worry you're causing me, I'd thank you." She snorted. The captain had a guard escort me back to the room where the clan waited. By then, everyone had finished and was nervously awaiting the outcome of my meeting with Roshan. Everyone was silent as we loaded our equipment on the wagons and left.
"Well," Alida asked as we sat around the communal fire.
"Well... I told her for a few toras I could see a really good future. One where she didn't die without a copper. But since she only paid me two coppers, I guess she liked the one I told her." I pulled my lower lip up in a pout, as I handed Lujza the coppers.
"Lady Roshan is not fooled, which is a relief," Lujza said, looking at the coins in her hand.
"What do you mean?" Kata asked, leaning forward. She was much like what I thought a younger Lujza would have been like: full of energy, inquisitive, and shrewd.
"The two coppers are what Ryana asked for when Roshan asked the price. By paying Ryana what she asked, she acknowledged the telling wasn't for money. She acknowledged it was meant as a gift." She paused looking up at the moon Setebos, a harvest moon. "Remember, Lady wu'Lichak didn't give her any money either. In both cases the money was given to the clan leader. Enough, Ryana isn't going to tell us what happened, and I suspect we are better off not knowing."
"Since the Shadow of Death got us under the protection of the king, life has improved for us gypsies. But being paid in advance to return is something I never thought I'd live to see. Between what Lady Roshan paid for the performance and the advance, it's almost as much as we make on a circuit across Hesland. Missing Tuska wouldn't be as financially disastrous as I had imagined," Santo said. Luka put his arm around me and kissed me on the head, as his mother sat down next to him.
"I had wondered over the past few years what you were looking for in a woman to be your wife and if you would ever find it. And I had concerns about you marrying a non-gypsy. But, I approve. Ryana is a welcome addition to the Tobar clan, and the perfect wife for you. She will forever hold your attention."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CALION: Zeles – Secrets
Later that night I sent Anil to watch the Intermediate's house. Eshe and Renee were in Zeles somewhere and I needed to contact them. I hoped one of them would contact our new Intermediate, Galene. Unfortunately, no one other than a few customers visited her house. The next day was a rest day, which most used to play around with new variations to their acts. Kata had us working on a three fireball routine. Again, nothing at the Intermediate's house. During the performance the next night I stood off to the side watching the audience, hoping one or both would show. They did. This time their illusion of two low-paid servants was excellent. They looked to be enjoying themselves, laughing and clapping at the right times. It was a marked improvement over last time. Then I had been able to identify them because they looked like they were acting the part rather than being the part. I was able to identify them this time because I had seen their faces. I had Kasi follow them back to the wealthy merchant who employed them.
The fortuneteller tent had the long line of customers, which had become normal lately. My reputation had grown. The idea of paying two coppers to have your fortune told by someone who told fortunes for nobles and wizards was exciting. Somehow that made me a real fortuneteller. The customers included the usual number of women wanting to hear some bit of good news in the future, but I had an increasing number of merchants and was learning a great deal about trading. The last individual was a man in a black robe.
"Good evening, sir. How may I help you?" I said, preparing myself for trouble. He dropped two coppers on the table but didn't sit.
"The God Xades seeks a good and safe Hesland, and we, His disciples, are committed to seeing it come true."
"A worthy goal," I said, as my hand touched the knife I kept in a sheath under the table top.
"We could use your help. You have access to the secrets of merchants, nobles, and wizards."
"And you would like to know them."
"Yes. Evil must be punished if Hesland is to be free of it. You would be well rewarded," he said, turning his head directly towards me, so that I had a partial view of his face. A high level disciple if I wasn't mistaken, judging by his face. He had lived a hard life, been in many fights, and used to intimidation from his current expression. "And those who support evil by refusing to help eliminate it."
"How am I to know what the God Xades thinks is evil. Beside, I'm sure Xades, already knows who is evil and who isn't. After all, He's a God."
"Yes, He knows, but He expects his disciples to earn His rewards... or displeasure."
"I still haven't decided which God or Goddess I should follow. There are many: Amatera, Jhea, Xades, and Konos. Each with a worthy goal. And no one can serve two masters." I hoped he might answer the question that had been nagging me, are the groups in competition, independent, or part of a greater whole.
"It would not be good to anger Xades." His voice lowered to a growl.
"It would not be good to anger any God. But surely the Gods do not compete or are jealous like humans."
"Only when you are invited, like you are."
"I will think about it. You may keep your coppers, since I haven't told your fortune."
"You should give me two coppers, because I know your fortune if you refuse Xades," he snarled. My shadow-self took control, and I dropped into the moment. I picked up the two coppers.
"I will tell you that few can walk in the shadows safely. You are not one of them," I said in a voice devoid of emotions. He stood seconds from death—a rocktail needle in one hand and a knife in the other. His head jerked directly towards me, and I saw his face. It had lost its confidence, replaced by shock. He stepped back a step, hesitated, and left without saying anything. I sat trembling for I don't know how long. I wanted no part of killing and had hoped to leave it behind. I wanted to live as a wife and member of the clan in a peaceful Hesland. But the Shadow of Death lurked just below the surface and a troubled Hesland beckoned to her. I must have been lost in my thoughts for a long time, when Roza stuck her head into the tent.
"Ryana, you've no more customers. We closed the area and food's being served."
"Thank you, Roza. I'm coming," I said, rushing after her. Santo stepped up beside me as I collected a plate and spooned a thick stew onto it.
"Was the black-robed one a problem? I got worried when you didn't join us right away."
"I'm not sure if he thought he could intimidate me into being his informant, or he intended to force me."
"Do you want someone else to take the fortuneteller duty until we leave Zeles?"
"I will," Kata said.
"No, Kata. I'd hate to see you lose that permanent smile you have now that you don't have that duty. You would probably have us working on a five-fireball routine."
"That's a great idea, Ryana," she said causing many to laugh and the subject to change. I was clan and they would respect my decision.
* * *
While Luka was preparing for sleep, I watched through Anil and Kasi eyes as Eshe a
nd Renee left the house in their blacks and ghosted through the city. They finally staked out a large building and settled down in the shadows. When Luka rolled over and pulled the cover up to his neck, I kissed his cheek and left. With Kasi's help I easily found the building and quietly approached their hiding location. When I was only two steps away I whispered.
"You're characters have much improved."
Both jerked their heads in my direction and knives appeared. When they saw my blacks, the knives lowered but did not disappear.
"If I hadn't seen your faces, I couldn't have picked you out of a crowd."
"The Shadow... in Naze?" Eshe asked. I nodded.
"I need to talk to you. Now if you can, or later if this can't be interrupted."
"Now. Nothing is going to happen at this hour."
"Follow me," I said, and headed for a secluded, wooded area Anil had found. Even slowing to avoid the few out at this hour, it only took fifteen minutes to reach. We settled down facing each other.
"I owe you an apology. You were right. I needed to rest before attempting to make Ahasha and north was the safest direction. We learned later they had mercenaries blocking the roads looking for three Sisters. I know now you didn't mangle those dead bodies for pleasure. I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry, Sister," Renee said before I had a chance to speak.
"Yes. There has been much discussion about you at Ahasha. We agree the Sisterhood owes you much. We hope to walk in your shadow," Eshe said, bowing in my direction.
"Please don't. It is filled with death." I felt like screaming, don't follow in my footsteps, they are cursed. "Hold out your hands," I said instead, producing the vial with the drug. Eshe responded immediately, and I placed a drop on her finger. "Taste it." After she did, Renee put her hand out, and I put a drop on her finger.
"Like some kind of fruit. Sweet and pleasant," Eshe said.
"Like a mixture of fruits but unlike anything I've ever tasted," Renee said.
"It is made from a flower in the dry, hot desert of Zunji land. They call it the deadly Pleasure. The yellow-robed followers of Drogo in Tuska seduced Sister Jelena with it. Under its influence, Jelena became one of the camp's whores at night and their agent during the day. She was actively seeking to get the Sisterhood under the influence of the prophet Drogo. And she would have succeeded given time. She knew too many secrets."
"What happened?" Renee asked. I suspect Eshe had guessed, when she didn't say anything.
"I killed her. If you detect that taste in your food or drink stop eating or drinking, find out who put the person up to giving you the drug, and contact Ahasha with what you find. That drug will make you a willing slave devoid of morality, loyalty, or will power." During the silence that followed, my mind relived those awful days under its influence.
"Most addictive drugs render the user useless. This one doesn't?" Eshe asked.
"Not in the short term. I believe it would if the user went without it for several days."
"Do you have instructions for us?" Eshe asked.
"Only that you keep Ahasha informed of any unusual activity from the black-robed ones as well as their number." Unasked they discussed their current assignment. They had been hired by the merchants’ guild to spy on one of their members who they suspected might be dealing in stolen goods. I got the impression that Morag had given instruction for the Sisters who met me to bring me up to date on what they were doing. In theory, I was here to advise. I had no clue what that meant and hoped I'd know when it was necessary. But I doubted it. Feeling I had nothing to contribute to their assignment, I left. Luka barely moved when I slipped in beside him.
* * *
We left for Ashtol the next day, a sixday trip. I felt good about the Magic Fireballs and the innovations Kata continued to make. Handling the fireballs was becoming routine. In the beginning, burns were a common occurrence, but lately neither I nor the others received more than an occasional minor one. Late the second night out of Zeles, Anil and Kasi noted four men in black-robes approaching. They remained some hundred paces away as they slowly circled the wagons. I knew they looked for me, somehow knowing I would be up late and away from the wagons. An overheard remark, an observation, or common knowledge, I wondered. Or did they look for Luka and my wagon. The thought brought beads of sweat to my forehead. I drew a knife for my right hand and a rocktail needle, which I folded back against my left forearm, and waited.
Five minutes later they found me. I decided to do nothing until I knew what they wanted and intended to do.
"There!" a man exclaimed when they were within twenty paces of me. I had remained sitting to give the illusion of having been found by surprise and alone. The four rushed to circle me as I stood. The tallest man moved a few steps closer than the other three.
"You have angered the God Xades, gypsy. But I have begged Him to forgive you, if you will change your mind and help us create peace within Calion," the man said in a voice that sounded educated and used to giving orders. The man was obviously the Prophet Virtor since he talked to the God.
"A worthy goal as I told the other man. And what did I do that requires I be forgiven, Prophet Virtor?"
"You threatened to kill one of Xades's disciples."
"If he told you that, he lied," I couldn't resist the word game. It drew me like Anil and Kasi to blood.
"Theo?"
"She said the shadows would kill me, Prophet Virtor."
"Well, Ryana, do you deny that? Theo is not a liar."
"Perhaps, just easily confused. He paid me two coppers for a telling. I accepted the coppers and told him the shadows weren't safe. It was not a threat but the one future I saw most clearly for him."
"Never mind. Drop the knife and come with us. The God Xades will determine your future. It can be good or bad depending upon your cooperation."
"That sounds like a threat. No more pretenses, Virtor?" I dropped the knife and sought the moment between the second that was and the one to be.
"Theo, get her and let’s go," he said. When Theo grabbed me, I stumbled into him jabbing him with the needle and chanting in a dead voice.
"God Xades, Virtor seeks to do his will, not yours. Protect me from evil." I looked up at the sky, where I supposed the Gods lurked. Theo stood eyes wide for several seconds and collapsed at my feet. Virtor's head moved like he sought to find a reason for Theo's collapse. The other two men backed away from Theo and me.
"Get her," he shouted, but he had lost control of the men. Fear had them in its grip. They wanted no part of me and maybe Xades.
"Prophet Virtor, I will tell you what you should already know. Commoners and merchants don't tell two-copper, gypsy fortunetellers their darkest secrets. They want to know whether their next child will be a boy or a girl, whether it would be best to trade in Ashtol or Kaslos, or to be lied to about how wonderful their lives will be next cycle. And you of all people should know that nobles don't believe anyone can tell the future. So they seek information about what we see and hear in our travels—not secrets. No Heslander tells a gypsy his or her secrets." I picked up my knife and pointed it at Theo's body. "But for two coppers, I will tell your fortune. It appears my telling for Theo came true."
The two men had backed further way, their heads jerking back and forth between Virtor and me. He stood silent, looking from me to Theo to his men and back to me.
"Your violence against a disciple of Xades cannot go unpunished," he finally snarled.
"What about your violence against me, a gypsy who is under the king's protection. That cannot go unpunished. And what about your God Xades and your violence against me? If you are truly following Xades's will, then you should, with His help, easily subdue me. But if not..." I waited, hoping he would leave, make some excuse why Xades told him He didn't want me, and leave me alone. One killing was all my visual-Ryana could handle. He recovered quickly considering he had been surprised.
"You're right, gypsy. Theo lied to me and Xades has punished him. Go in peace." He turned and waved his men
to follow. I was sure he hated me, would love to get even, and would if the opportunity ever presented itself. But for now, he was stuck with his it was Theo's fault excuse.
It was a long time before I could stop shaking. I had killed—again—but what was my option? Let them take me and do their bidding? Let them kill me? Dying was the simple solution, but the coward's way out. It would solve my problems but cause others unnecessary pain and suffering. No, I had a duty to the Shadow Sisters, my clan, and Luka to live. With that resolved for now, I made my way back to the wagons.
For the next five days travelling, I took comfort in the clan's activities: up at dawn, prepare and eat, travel to noon, rest and eat, travel to late afternoon, practice, eat, the evening gathering, and when Luka retired, I sought comfort in being out with my darlings.
"How do you do it, Ryana?" Roza asked as she found me propped up against a tree late one night.
"It's hard to break the conditioning I got at Ahasha. And I don't mind. The night is quiet and a good time for thinking or dreaming. What brings you out so late?"
"The same thing that eventually troubles every gypsy woman as she approaches marrying age—who will she marry and what will life be like with that man?"
"And I just took one of the available men," I said, feeling sorry for Roza. For a woman Heslander there were hundreds of choices, and most could wait until they found someone they loved or thought they did. For a gypsy, the available men were few and so any offer would likely be accepted.
"True, but you're bringing new blood into the clans, and we desperately need that. Besides, I think we all stopped considering Luka available long ago. Desirable, yes, but not the marrying kind. No, I think most of us are glad to see Luka married and no longer a temptation, so we can concentrate on someone who is available." She laughed and put her arm around me.
"Pick out one you like, and I'll kidnap him for you. That way you won't have to leave the Tobar clan."
"I'll let you know when I find him." She squeezed me. "Thanks, Ryana. I needed someone's shoulder to cry on." She rose and stretched. "I'm off to bed. I think I can sleep now."